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Venice: How we wished we planned our visit
Before travelling to Venice in Italy last Spring with a group of friends, we believed we had carried out a thorough research about the city but as a Londoner, we kept visualising the Thames and completely forgot that Venice is surrounded by the Adriatic sea and not a river. Assuming that taxis were cars was a big mistake too because, although there are taxi cars, the locals also get around by water taxis (boats).
We planned 2 must-see sights with a little help from our hotel staff and the locals, while other trips were spontaneous. The first was to go on a Gondola along the Grand Canal and the second was to visit Murano Glass factory .
Why we didn’t get on a Gondola
Something happened that prevented us from getting on a Gondola
We went to a well-being conference with a bunch of friends and it got packed. Besides, it was tough fitting in everything we wanted to do, especially with a tight schedule. I had my eyes on the Gondola to cruise along through the Grand Canal and get some sightseeing done. This was to be an experience but it didn’t happen. I was really gutted that I went all the way to Venice and missed a trip on a Gondola! How could I have gone to Venice without getting on a Gondola? This is one of the iconic activities you should try to do if possible.
We decided to go on a Boat Cruise from Lido to St Mark’s Basilica instead, which was so much fun! Although this is a tourist hot spot, the crowds were not overwhelming. Once off the boat, we explored St Mark’s Basilica but couldn’t leave without indulging in some delicious Venetian ice cream.
Murano Glass Factory
We desperately wanted to see the Glass factory, but we didn’t have enough time to get to Murano, which is the location of the glass factory because our tickets for our boat only lasted for around 2 hours. So we sailed back to the Lido.
We were informed by the locals that the factory was situated on another island known as Murano island and we could even go on a private tour with a little help from Half day Murano and Burano island tour by private boat but we had limited time to get there. Venice is calling me back!
Another way to see Venice is by going on a Venice Islands Tour on Boat.
Who knows we might get another chance to go back to Venice and ride on a Gondola.
Getting to Venice Lido and Hotel Rivamare:
After arriving at Marco Polo airport locate the water taxi,
From Marco Polo Venice Airport
- Take the Alilaguna taxi boat (or a speed boat if you’re feeling brave) going to the Lido of Venice and get off at Lido.
- Take bus A or B towards Alberoni (departures every 10 minutes).
- Get off at Sant’Antonio (around 5 minutes).
- Across from the church, take via Calmo and at the end (100m) turn on your left. You have arrived. Our destination was the Lido.
If possible, purchase your return ticket in advance online or from a kiosk.
The Things I wish I knew beforehand
A friend surprisingly organised a Speed boat instead of a water taxi! This was a mind-blowing experience and not for the faint hearted!! Mind you, the views were worth it. A word of caution – beware if you suffer from motion sickness.
The downside of getting around is most of the journeys were by boat, which is not ideal if you become nauseated. But we still had fun regardless. Travelling on the boats were so therapeutic but the sea felt rough and it was high season.
Avoid getting lost
Wear comfortable shoes and have a city map (from your hotel, station or airport) with you or use Google maps to get around (WiFi or mobile data permitting)
Having said this, I took a dead end and found a beach nearby.
Avoid tourist traps
Like most cities, it is wise to venture out early after breakfast to cope with the crowds.
It was almost inevitable to steer away from the main attractions like St Mark’s Basilica (St Mark’s Church) and Piazza San Marco (St Mark’s Square). This is the main square of Venice. These are the main attractions, but there are some quiet back streets, which are less crowded. After leaving Piazza San Marco, we headed back to the Lido.
One way to enjoy group travel is to take time out for you to reflect. In doing so, I walked past the tennis club Venezia in the Lido region where we stayed. Apparently it is one of the oldest in the country.
Venice, the Picturesque city
No doubt, Venice is a picture-perfect city. We couldn’t stop absorbing the views and would recommend visiting for a city break.
Our time in Venice was short (4 nights, 5 days in May 2024) however, we managed to get a feel of the city and learned some tips to pass onto future travellers.
Things to know
Always book your trips with a reputable company. Our flights were cancelled on the day before we were travelling back to London. I stepped in and booked the tickets with Easyjet on the morning of our departure and luckily those same tickets were still available. Apparently the tickets were cancelled by the agent and we didn’t know why, even after making enquiries.
Sometimes, you are going to make an executive decision. This was definitely fate!
Be prepared to pay for City tax between 18th April and 27th July – €5 if booked at least four days in advance, or €10 if booked within the last three days. This is an access fee, apparently charged for crowd control.
Be prepared to pay for Tourist tax – The fee is €5 when you book in advance, and €10 if booked less than four days in advance. The fee applies on specific days and times between 8:30 am and 4 pm. However, residents and overnight guests are exempt.
One of the advantages of group travel is sharing ideas and having long chats about life.
Have you been to Venice? What was the best part of your time in the city? Drop me a line or two as always.
